Broadband ultrasonic attenuation in the os calcis and single photon absorptiometry in the distal forearm: a comparative study.
Poll V., Cooper C., Cawley MI.
The measurement of broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) in the os calcis has been described recently but the method has not been compared with other non-invasive techniques for the assessment of bone mass. We have compared the measurement of BUA in the os calcis with single-photon absorptiometry of the distal forearm in 44 subjects. A highly significant positive correlation was found between these two measurements (r = 0.80, p less than 0.001). Day to day repeatability was assessed for both techniques, with coefficients of variation of 3.9% and 1.4%, respectively, being obtained. Broadband ultrasonic attenuation appears to be a potentially useful bone measurement in the appendicular skeleton.